UNO President Peter J. Fos Appoints Faculty Senate President to Carry University Mace
at Investiture and Commencements

At Wednesday's University Faculty Senate and Council Meeting, University of New Orleans
President Peter J. Fos appointed Faculty Senate President and Professor of Management
Dinah M. Payne, to carry the University Mace during the November 12, 2012 Investiture
and UNO commencement exercises. Professor Payne will carry the University Mace at
all commencements and preside as Grand Marshall during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Traditionally, a mace is a staff carried by a dignitary as an ensign of individual
or institutional authority and prestige. The University of New Orleans Mace was first
presented on September 6, 1988 at the Academic Convocation commemorating the University’s
September 6, 1988 at the Academic Convocation commemorating the University’s September
5, 1958 opening ceremony. Commissioned in January, 1988, the Mace was conceptualized
by Professor Howard Jones, who was then chair of the University’s Department of Fine
Arts, and refined and executed by Doug McCash, a graduate assistant working under
the supervision of Professor Jones.

The University of New Orleans Mace’s bronze head is mounted on a mahogany shaft and
has many levels of imagery. Subtle features of the artifact symbolize the composition,
mission, and vitality of the University. Emblematic of authority, the Mace has the
name and year of appointment of each of the University’s leaders engraved on separate
bronze rings at the base of the shaft.